From the traditional to the most unconventional, typographic specimens are, at the end of the day, promotional products. A showcase of the most beautiful characters, the most standout details, and the technical prowess necessary to bring a typeface to the market. Let there be no mistake: we love them for that. We are letter enthusiasts and are just as culpable of decorating our bookshelves with more captivating books than will ever fit.

However, given the niche nature of the typography business – and of font purchasing – the majority of them may only seek validation from professionals and do not desire to appeal to a broader public.

In creating Type Tales, we set out to design a type specimen to be truly read from cover to cover by anyone, insider or not. Type Tales is a collection of 15 original illustrated stories aimed at children and grown-ups, showcasing Collletttivo’s full Open Source catalogue through the magic of storytelling. Each tale is exclusively set in a single, different typeface, allowing the reader to experience the story through one font’s distinct characteristics and, likewise, discover the essence of one typeface through its narratives.

Original or inspired by folklore, the tales – much like typography itself – draw from our culture and collective heritage to find contemporary meanings and build new shared legacy. At the heart of the Open Source philosophy is the belief that knowledge is a collaborative, ever-evolving common good. That is central to all we do at Collletttivo, and often extends beyond typography and font publishing. We want Type Tales to feel as open and accessible as our typefaces; a way for everyone – especially those who are generally uninvolved in the field – to interact and contribute to the design conversation.

Collaboration is a fundamental element in our approach to type design; we believe that type design is a discipline that requires constant dialogue and exchange. This same approach was at the heart of how we developed Type Tales. The stories were written by different authors, paired with typefaces by different designers, laid out by others, and finally illustrated by a fresh hand, in a chaotic and unpredictable exchange of files. This method allowed us to achieve something unexpected, richer, and better than what we would have reached on our own.